Whither Windy's?
Sunday, August 17th, 2014 08:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lizvogelI made my spreadsheet of SF/f markets, and it's already proved its worth, since in the process I figured out the best market for the story I want to get back out there next, and the follow-up market if that one doesn't bite. Market S sounds like a good fit, pays pretty well, and has a respectable readership. Market T has a lot of competition for spots and a very long response time, but pays vastly above the going rate and has a huge readership.
And then I found Market U.
I love the sense of humor conveyed by their overall approach; it sounds like exactly the sensibilities that would suit my story. And they pay well enough. I was all set to fire it off that day, and did a quick "bewares" search just for form's sake. I didn't find any warnings... but I didn't find much else, either. Very few reviews, no general chatter at all outside of Market U's own site. Which makes me wonder, nifty as they are... is anybody reading them? People should be, because I read all of the current issue and there's nothing wrong with the story quality, but that doesn't automatically promise flocks of eager eyeballs. And that makes me hesitate.
Because that's the goal here. Money's nice, don't get me wrong; it's not like I'm going to turn it down. But first and foremost, this story wants to be read, and by as many amenable readers as it can reasonably reach. And I just don't know if Market U can provide that.
I've got time to dither: the submissions window for Market U's relevant issue is open for another month or so, and Market S doesn't re-open for another couple of weeks. But dithering without more data isn't likely to get me any farther, no matter how much time I put into it. ;-P
(Of course, this all assumes that any of them will buy the story. But one rather has to assume that, or what's the point of sending it out?)
And then I found Market U.
I love the sense of humor conveyed by their overall approach; it sounds like exactly the sensibilities that would suit my story. And they pay well enough. I was all set to fire it off that day, and did a quick "bewares" search just for form's sake. I didn't find any warnings... but I didn't find much else, either. Very few reviews, no general chatter at all outside of Market U's own site. Which makes me wonder, nifty as they are... is anybody reading them? People should be, because I read all of the current issue and there's nothing wrong with the story quality, but that doesn't automatically promise flocks of eager eyeballs. And that makes me hesitate.
Because that's the goal here. Money's nice, don't get me wrong; it's not like I'm going to turn it down. But first and foremost, this story wants to be read, and by as many amenable readers as it can reasonably reach. And I just don't know if Market U can provide that.
I've got time to dither: the submissions window for Market U's relevant issue is open for another month or so, and Market S doesn't re-open for another couple of weeks. But dithering without more data isn't likely to get me any farther, no matter how much time I put into it. ;-P
(Of course, this all assumes that any of them will buy the story. But one rather has to assume that, or what's the point of sending it out?)
